TuTu's & Dump Trucks!!

We've been talking A LOT about Elsie Anne's upcoming Ballet Class!  She says, "Dan!" + "Rina!" (dance, ballerina) whenever we get on the topic.  She is constantly dancing, spinning + bouncing, so I know this class will be right up her alley - and mine!! 

This morning, as we're in the midst of our normal routine, Shawn puts the 'YO-GABBA-GABBA' dvd in + EA immediately says, "OUT!"  We help her brake out of the high chair, she stands up + boogies down!  The music on this program is very unique - different than any other children's program I've seen.  SHE LOVES IT!  Thank goodness it dawned on me that she has a TuTu in her closet, because when I pulled it out, her eyes lit up... it was the perfect time to introduce this precious accessory:)

...I can't imagine what the first day of her 'Dance Class' is going to be like, but if its anything like this morning, we're in for a REAL TREAT!!!  She is our little Dancing Queen!

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You wouldn't believe it, but we talk about TRACTORS even more than dancing!!  When we pull onto the road from our house, her first words (never fails) are "Hmmm, DigDig??!"  Now, "DigDig" does not refer to ALL tractors, she is specifically asking for the EXCAVATOR (the one w/ the long arm that 'digs')!  There is a ton of road construction going on near our house, so she knows she's going to see it!  Once she is satisfied by seeing the monstrous yellow machine, she then asks for "Coop?" (scoop is the 'loader' tractor) "Dum?" (dump is the dump truck) and "Puch?" (push is the bulldozer)!  The other hilarious part of our conversation through the Construction Zone is when she says "Hi Man!!" and "Helmet" to every worker along the roadside!

So, as we're browsing the aisles @ Target today, EA immediately spots this...

...and we HAD to buy it!!  It was just too PERFECT to pass up!  The yellow dump trunk, the man w/ the helmet, + it even dumps little lego blocks!  I've gotta say, I'm definitely IN to the boy section of toys now... EA loves them:)  The rake + shovel were a MUST too... they were in the dollar bin, she loves playing w/ Henry's, so in the buggy they went!!

The moral of THIS story... I think we've got a pretty well rounded Little Lady on our hands!!

"THE BEST DAY"

I am teary everytime I hear this song... its the way I feel about my life + upbringing with my parents, and what I hope Elsie Anne will feel one day when she looks back!

"Its the age of Princesses and Pirate Ships and the Seven Dwarfs. Daddy's smart and you're the Prettiest Lady in the whole wide World! Now I know why all the trees change in the Fall. I know you were on my side even when I was wrong. And I love you for giving me your eyes, staying back and watching me shine. And I didn't know if you knew, so I'm taking this chance to say that I HAD THE BEST DAY, WITH YOU, TODAY!!"

"The Best Day" by Taylor Swift please take a second and listen to this sweet 'thank-you note' of a song :)

If only our little Missy Moo knew how much fun we are having w/ her, and what she brings to our lives!  I LOVE knowing that God planned for HER to be OUR daughter...she was made perfectly PERFECT for Shawn and I :)  WE LOVE YOU ELSIE ANNE!!

ps: I had the Best Day with You, Momma & Daddy!  Thank you for being the most amazing parents, and for setting such good examples to live my life by!  I Love You!

'BABIES IN MOTION'

Elsie Anne is going to a NEW class @ our gym!!  We are pumped for this activity, since there are really no other classes offered for her age (besides her 'Mommy & Me Ballet' class that starts in September)!!

EA had a great time meeting a new little friend, Lilly!  We were the only 2 that showed for the first class, but I've already spread the word + there will definitely be others next week!  I loved that the class had a little structure to it... we did Circle Time which included a story, songs + building w/ blocks as a group, then we played on the mats w/ the balls, tunnels, hula hoop, etc!!

EA had seen the big girls @ Shelby's birthday party this past wkend doing the hula hoop + new exactly what to do when she picked it up today!!  Although she hung on to it, and twirled around, instead of spinning it around her body, I was impressed w/ the skill!!  It was super cute to watch!!

Shelby's 5th Birthday!!!

What a SPECIAL Birthday Party!!! 

I met Shelby when she was 6mo old @ Little Red School House, where I worked for almost 3yrs.  She was in the first group of babies that I worked with + we had an immediate bond!  Once I left Little Red, I nannied for her family for almost 2yrs!  Needless to say, we are very close w/ the Stais' + consider the girls Elsie Anne's Breckenridge cousins!! 

Being a part of Shelby's 5th birthday was super fun!  I'm honored to have been to EVERY birthday party Shelby's had, but was flattered to be invited to THIS one since it was a Big Kid Party + EA is not really in that category!  It was neat to see Elsie Anne hold her own in the midst of all the craziness!

Bummed I couldn't catch Shelby for a quick shot w/ EA:(

Frisco, Concert in the Park!

Every Thursday evening during the Summer, our neighboring town has live music on their Main Street from 5:30-7:30!  Elsie Anne + I stumbled upon this a few weeks ago + ever since, I've been advocating for friends to join.  For some reason or another, no one has been able to meet us...but no worries, we ALWAYS have a good time!  EA loves the live music, just like her Momma + we dance around like no one else is there! 

Today, Shawn got to come!!!  Daddy + his Sweet Princess entranced by the tunes!

Time for EA to stretch her legs...she ran right over to our favorite Bronze Statue!  Its an enormous 8ft Grizzly Bear bent over, face to face, w/ this little Indian Boy.  He is just too cute w/ his hands tucked behind his back, holding his bow...

...and these two staring each other down, there's just some beautiful innocence in it that I love!  I wish I got a full body shot of the enormity of the Grizzly!  I'll do that next time :)

My little Love Muffin!

Miss Social Butterfly made a much older friend...they rolled down the hill, played in the bushes, climbed in a wooden playhouse + ran around like crazies.  Its so nice when she meets sweet kids to hang w/, but we just wonder where are their parents???

And we attempted several times for a family shot, but this is the best we got!  What a wonderful Summer Night, nothing is better than hanging w/ family :)

CHIPMUNKS!!!

We had a RiverWalk playdate w/ Nadia, our good friend whom we haven't seen in a quite a while.  It took the girls about 2min to warm up to each other, then were right back to being best buds!  They are so funny together + make each other laugh constantly :)

We walked along the River on the paths + spyed on CHIPMUNKS!  The girls couldn't get enough.  They got so excited to spot one, then so bummed once they scared them away.  Elsie Anne would squeal, "MiMunk!!" and Nadia would yell, "MunkChip!!"  It was quite the scene :)

FINALLY...we found a rather tame "MiMunk" + the girls were able to get a closer look!

Silly GIRLS, we look forward to going camping w/ Nadia + her family!!!

ALL BY HERSELF!!

Our park-time now consists of SLIDING.... over + over + over!!!

Elsie Anne is extremely sturdy on steps (of all shapes + sizes) and loves climbing ALL BY HERSELF!!  She will brush me off if I'm anywhere near her!

Climbing up the 'big-kid steps'...ALL BY HERSELF, of course!  This was the first time I bit the bullet + stood @ the very bottom the whole time!

Look @ how proud she is that I'm not right behind her + that she sat down @ the top ALL BY HERSELF!!!  And I was so proud of myself for being 5ft below her + not freaking out:)

WEEEEEEE!  She knew that she was being such a BIG GIRL + she could not quit cheesin' :)

All the way to the bottom... w/ no help what-so-ever!!!  She even hopped off the bottom ALL BY HERSELF!!!!

Our sweet Missy Moo has completely eliminated ANY sign of BABY left in her!!

Evening Playdate!!

We met up w/ some friends @ Carter Park to drink some beer, play w/ the kids, and enjoy a gorgeous evening!!  Elsie Anne got to go for a ride on the cooler to get to our shady picnic area.

Elsie Anne's meeting Kai for the first time!  She is a really good sport about 'licky' dogs, unlike her Momma, ha:)  Kristin + Jake chillin' on the blanket.  Shawn throwing the football w/ Andrew, Kristin's husband (our BIG KIDS)!

EA found the sand volleyball court... and had a ball ROLLING in it!!!

Daddy's Sweetie!

Thank you Phillip Family for a great evening playdate, we'll have to do it again!!!

WOAH!

Just need to document a FIRST... 4-word-sentence!

Driving down the road today, we're talking about Henry + the fact that he went 'bye-bye' on an airplane today.  Elsie Anne blurted out... "Henry Ddssshhhh Ay Hiiii!" translation: Henry (airplane noise) Way High (pointing into the air)! 

I about died in disbelief + said, "that's right, Henry is in an airplane, way up high"!!  She continued talking about the airplane being 'ay hi' all the way home!!! 

Parenting is just too much fun!!! 
At the Frisco Marina Park w/ our buds...

Thanks for taking the pics Kristin:)

Hanging Around...

That's my girl...just HANGING AROUND!!!  Elsie Anne wants to HANG on everything, including our stove handle :)

Swinging like the BIG KIDS!!

SPINNING!  This contraption was awesome:)

HANGING AROUND having a little snack w/ friends!!  Yes, the view @ this park is incredible!!

Another day in PARADISE (during the summer, heehee) w/ my sweet SUNSHINE!!

SENTENCES!!

In the last two weeks, we've noticed Elsie Anne using sentences!  At her 15mo check-up our pediatrician told us to watch for this, as she's very advanced in her verbal skills (I'm not tooting MY horn, just very proud of our little talker).  Dr. Winfield does not include 'gargain' as a sentence, ("Lets go, Hi Daddy") as these are things we put together for her + she mimics us.  She said to look for EA's own words that she puts together herself!
So these are her first sentences...

• "Daddy Un,Un,Un!" (run,run,run) as she watched Shawn run up the steps.
• "I STUCK!!" when her hand or foot are 'stuck' in anything.
• "All Beba" (all better) when she pulls her hand or foot out of whatever she is 'stuck' in.  This one is 'gargain' but I had to include it, since it goes along w/ the previous!
• "My BaBa" as she hugs her sippy cup to her neck.
• "My Hiney" as she pats her bottom.
• "My TeeTee" when she's washing herself in the tubby.
• "Bye,Bye Gola, Nov Nu" (bye,bye gondola, love you) when we drive under the gondola.
• "Daddy Wok" (daddy work) when I ask her "where's Daddy"

It's incredible how she catches on... I mean how did she get 'I' + 'My' out of me saying "That's Elsie Anne's cup" or "Are you stuck?"  I can't believe she's already figuring out POSSESSION of things!  As you can tell, Shawn + I are in AW of our baby girl + so proud of her!!

This is EA being a BALLERINA w/ her hands above her head, spinning around!  She says "RINA!"

Elsie Anne eating her corn-on-the-cob b/c she saw us doing it, + didn't want to eat what I had cut off-the-cob for her, anymore:)

Missy Moo is growing up + becoming such an independent TODDLER!  I just can't believe it!  I'm starting to feel the ITCH for another baby, uh oh!!

4th of July Wknd!

We made an effort to get-away for the weekend!!  Shawn has been working so hard, actually, we've both been working so hard since we returned from Florida, so it was very special to have a family weekend away from 'the grind'!! 

We left Friday (7/2) afternoon and got to Granby, CO just in time for the Farmer's Market!  **For those of you that don't know, my parent's have a house in Granby, which is a little over an hour away from Breckenridge, so its really nice to have a FREE get-away location**  Elsie Anne LOVED the live flute-ist + was dancing around hippy-style :)  She had her arms waving around + her hips going too, it was too cute + got a ton of attention!

We weren't ready to stop playing yet, so we went to the SolVista Bike Park (which is @ the back of my parent's neighborhood) to check it out!  It is hosting the 2010 US National Mountain Bike Championship in two weeks, (for the second year in a row) and is, as I've been told, the Premier Mountain Bike Resort in Colorado!  It was really neat watching all the guys practice... we found this 'child-sized' track that EA ran around + around for 20mins!!

Then we relaxed w/ a few beers on the deck... and yes, that is my daughter 'pole-dancing' for our entertainment!!  It was pretty hilarious watching her crazy moves on the "UM-LELLA" pole:)

Granby had their Town Parade + Fireworks on the 3rd... EA loved the USA flags MeMoo sent us, along w/ the matching bows in our hair:) 

This profile pic is one of my FAVS... they were watching the FIRETRUCKS get closer + closer, louder + LOUDER!

A quick family shot, that turned out pretty cute!  Oh, and by the way, Elsie Anne is 16mo old today (7/3)!

After nap we went back to the Bike Park, took the Lift to the top of the mountain + hiked around up there.  I'm bummed that we didn't get any pics of EA's first time on the Ski Lift!!  EA then enjoyed running around the Base Bar while we sat back + had a brewski :)

We pooped Elsie Anne out + she was ready for her tubby + bed right when we got home!  Couldn't have worked out better for us, since we made it our mission to get D-R-U-N-K by the time the FIREWORKS shot off!!  I know it sounds silly, but we haven't drank together like this in a LONG time!!  So, we got down + dirty... as you can see Shawn 'shot-gunned' a beer, something he said he hasn't done since our wedding! :)

And I drank liquor for the first time in a while:)  We enjoyed the gorgeous sunset on the deck, good music, good laughs, good memories, lovey dovey snuggles... and loved each hour of it!!

It all payed off b/c we were definitely TIPSY when we watched the FIREWORKS!  It was so much fun feeling our pre-baby selves, even if it was just for a few hours!  Not to say that post-baby is bad, but pre-baby felt so young + carefree, you know what I mean?! 

2nd Half...

Sunday (7/4) we took our traditional hike (as of last year) to Adam's Falls in Grand Lake Village. 

Elsie Anne enjoying her view from the "BA-BACK"!

The sound of the Falls is so peaceful, I love this hike!

Climbing around on the "ROCKS"!

We rewarded ourselves w/ Hot Dogs + Ice Cream @ 'Dairy King,' a local joint w/ a familiar name:)  This was the FIRST time EA has ever experienced the cold, sweet, goodness of this delicious treat!  She liked it, but really only wanted a few licks before she was done?!

We then ventured down to the Fire Dept, which had all their big trucks on display!  After seeing the Firetrucks in the Parade + talking about them a lot, EA was in aww of these monsterous machines!

She had a great time climbing all over them and saying, "WEE,OOOO,WEE,OOOO" (her siren noise)!

Momma couldn't help but PLAY too:)

We had to stop @ the very over-crowded Town Park!  EA loved 'kid watching', swinging, sliding + running everywhere as quick as her little feet could carry her!  We also stopped @ the Go-Cart track to watch the cars go 'round the track, the stables to see all the Horses, the beach to see the Sail Boats, + Town Square to listen to the live music!  It was a busy day, to say the least!

At home, we had a DANCE PARTY!!!  One of my favorite past-times w/ my Missy Moo... you can tell that she LOVES it too!  This is her 'rolling laughing' laugh...

Monday (7/5) morning Shawn took Elsie Anne to the Granby Airport, so that I could clean the house + pack up our things.  This is something I would've never thought of doing, but she thouroughly enjoyed it!  They were able to watch an airplane take off!

And there it is...

I'm disappointed that we didn't take any pictures of our stop @ Hot Sulphur Springs on our trip home.  It was the first time we had tried this Spring + of course EA loved getting to swim!  She was exhausted by the time we got back in the car, + slept on the way home (doesn't usually happen)!

All in all, this was one of our favorite family weekends to date!  We all left feeling re-connected, re-freshed, + re-vived for the upcoming weeks!!  I love my little family:)